We received a nice shipment of HPKY fibers last Friday, including some of this

That’s their 50/50 merino and tencel that works up at 7-8 sts/inch on 2.5mm to 3mm needle, 416 yards in a 4-ounce skein, for $23.25 a skein. BEAUTIFUL lustre and amazing drape, but still good for socks. I’ll testify that after working with it, it’s NUMMY. Check out the cuff

of my latest sock in progress. I show you the cuff because that’s the best color representation of what I’m knitting right now. I say that because while this is a great picture

I took it in evening sun on purpose, as a way to show off the shadows and highlights of this phenomenal pattern–Pomatomus, by CookieA.

There have been others capturing my attention as well. This is where my Luxury sock was as of Tuesday evening

which captured the color almost perfectly, but didn’t reveal the texture quite as well, so we shot this picture, too

to show off the great detail in the patterning. It’s a pattern I discovered in a stitch dictionary, so starting from there, I’m working a sock design out of it to be made available shortly (as soon as I finish this pair and someone else tests it for me….any takers? slip me an e-mail–but I warn you, the pattern won’t be available for at least a couple weeks).

I got addicted to the pattern and had to work the heel flap, turn the heel, and then work down the gusset….and of course had to finish the gusset decreases, too

so that’s what it looked like when I went in to work yesterday around 2 p.m., after a morning of knitting and then catching “Needle Arts Studio with Shay Pendray” yesterday afternoon. I had to watch, as it was going to be about the market floor at Stitches West 2008. Basically, Rick Mondragon (editor of KNITTER’S magazine and staffer at XRX Publishing) took Shay on a tour of four different booths at the market, showing off various projects at differing skill levels. I couldn’t take my eyes off of the train wreck that ensued…..and I discovered we have a new fiber for knitting called (sic)Polidamide……rhymes with thalidomide. (do polygamists knit with polidamide?) Personally, I think it’s the same as polyamid(e), but I’m just a bitch…you know that.

I’ve got tons more to share with you, but it’s Thursday, which means it’s our day off. I’m outta here to go spend some time with Matt. I mean, who could resist this face (and LuAnn’s)

She’s conducting in-store spinning demonstrations on how to make the most beautiful novelty yarns, how to spin her fibers, how to use her little bags of color and texture (she calls them Puff and Puffette), and just being engaging and sweet. She’s here from 10-6 (all day) today, and that’s it. HURRY HURRY! You’ll want to see her expert hands at work

She also brought along a myriad of temptations, too. Check it out

That’s five tables and a playpen of goodies to peruse. And don’t feel bad–if you’re not local, they’re still available for the weekend. Check out the run-down below, including one BRAND NEW PRODUCT she’s releasing with this show. Keep reading.

First off, she has spinning fibers……

These are a 50/50 merino and yak blend that Matt is currently spinning with on his wheel out front (yes, he is actually taking it easy today…HOORAY). It’s working up beautifully…I’m sure he’ll show it off on his blog soon. It runs $15 for four ounces.

She also has some 50/50 merino and tencel here that is also $15 for 4 ounces and simply striking

I’m sure Matt will spin some of that soon, as well. In addition to the “traditional fiber” stuff, she brought Fiber Puffs and Puffettes

which is what she uses to create her hand-spun, hand-dyed novelty yarns, which are striking. Puffs are $22 (mohair, wool, nylon, and silk) for 3.5 ounces and Puffettes are just $3.50 (same stuff, just 1/2 ounce) The novelty yarns are here as well, if you prefer not having to spin

and even more

and are 80 yards, 4 ounces, $52 or half that much (yes, 40 yards, 2 ounces) for half that much ($26). She also has some amazing cashmere blend handspun yarn

that’s half cashmere, half merino, ALL amazingly soft…..185 yards of this handspun delight is a STEAL at just $40 a skein (it should retail for $80, being HANDSPUN cashmere). I think I’m gonna score a few and dye them…yes I do.

If you’re more interested in her sock yarns, how’s about some beautiful Yukon

that’s 450 yards (3.8 oz) of 70% merino, 20% bamboo, 10% nylon for just $17 each. Or you might like the Glacier Bay

that’s 3-ply superwash merino and 5.5 ounces (MONSTER skein) at 450 yards for $27. Or you might find yourself attracted to her Denali

which is 80% merino, 20% nylon and 4 oz/450 yard hanks for $17. All of these yarns are here for the weekend, but we did also get a MONSTER shipment of Chugiak (2-ply merino, 450 yards/4 oz., $17) that’s on the shelf as regular stock.

But my newest addiction……like crack in a skein….is her Alyeska

It’s 80% merino, 10% nylon, and 10% CASHMERE and oooooooh-so-soft. I’m not a cashmere whore like some people (it just doesn’t do it for me, for the price, typically), but I’m telling you…..this stuff has brought me over to the dark side. LOOK AT IT

OH……….MY………GAWD. And to knit with this….you won’t believe your hands. Or the resulting fabric. YUM YUM YUM. We have the hanks you saw above, which are 360 yards, 4 ounces, for $30. We’ll have more later in the month or early next month, but for now….GET YOUR HANDS ON SOME OF THIS. I’m knitting with it and it’s divine!

With that, I’m outta here. If you need anything, be in touch by e-mail or toll-free line at 866-939-BEAR or just drop by and see things in action.

A quick side note–Blogger has NOT been complying with my wishes of late (to publish posts!) and Matt had to rig the last post, which blogger has now eaten (it’s missing as of Thursday the 15th, but I’ll ask him to replace it when he posts this one). I’ll be migrating the blog from Blogger to another service shortly, but there’s a chance that we’ll lose direct access to old posts and archives, which will suck. Stay tuned for details as we know them, but that’s part/most of the reason I’ve not been posting lately….Blogger SUCKS!

Oh, and one more thing…stay tuned for yet another amazing hand-dyed yarn post–someone special sent me something AMAZING to try out from her recent dyeing experiments and they’re just SMASHING. It’s wound and on the needles…you’ll see fabric shortly.